End violence and start talks, U.S. tells LTTE

By Nirupama Subramanian

COLOMBO, MARCH 7. The U.S. Government regards the LTTE as a terrorist organisation and does not believe it to be the sole representative of the Tamil people, but is willing to accept that it will be a partner in negotiations with the Sri Lankan Government for a political resolution of the island's conflict, the Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Ashley Wills, said in Jaffna today.

Mr. Wills, who finished a two-day tour of the peninsula, gave a public lecture at the Jaffna Library where he reiterated his Government's commitment to a political settlement of the conflict through negotiations and not through war.

``One of the facts we must face is that although we regard the LTTE as a terrorist organisation and do not believe it is the sole representative of the Tamil people, we accept that the leaders of the Tigers will be involved in the negotiations. This is because of the LTTE's military standing,'' he said.

He emphasised his Government's support for the Norwegian initiative to bring the LTTE and the Government to the negotiating table, and its opposition to the idea of an independent Tamil Eelam carved out of Sri Lanka.

``If the LTTE is still fighting for Tamil Eelam, please accept that the goal cannot be achieved, and if the LTTE really cares about the Tamil people and about assuring their rights, giving up violence and negotiating are the way to go,'' he said.

The Ambassador, who arrived in Sri Lanka six months back from New Delhi where he was a Deputy Ambassador, said it was possible that the LTTE could change from a military outfit to a democratic, political, non-violent organisation. He said its conduct in recent times held ``encouraging indications''.

The last LTTE attack on a non-military target was a suicide bombing near the Town Hall in Colombo in October last year, in which two U.S. nationals were injured. ``We hope that the LTTE will continue to refrain from attacking civilian targets and respect the other basic rules of conflict,'' he said. On Tuesday, Mr. Wills donated medical equipment worth $500,000 to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Musharraf counts on Saudi support
Next     : Bush nominates Negroponte for U.N. envoy post